ABB, a Switzerland-based power and automation technology group, plans to start production of central PV inverters in South Africa to support the rapidly growing local solar market and local content requirements.
ABB plans to open the new inverter production line at its existing facilities in Johannesburg in 2014. The line for its PVS800 range of central inverters will have a production capacity of approximately 500MW a year. It will produce 630kW, 875kW and 1,000kW central inverters.
The firm already produces solar inverters in Estonia, India and China.
ABB has been developing the South Africa market as a power converter firm. According to the firm, South Africa is one of the world's fastest growing solar markets due to government commitments to increase power generation from renewable sources under the country's renewable energy independent power producer procurement program.
"With this investment in a new production line, ABB further reinforces its position as a global renewables leader with attention to local market needs," said Ulrich Spiesshofer, head of ABB's Discrete Automation and Motion division. "The region's energy needs are set to grow with economic expansion and with South Africa looking to benefit from its abundance of sunshine, the firm will be in an even better position to serve local customers."
ABB installed its first two 500kW solar projects near Johannesburg in 2011, and has since gained a delivery pipeline of approximately 90MW of central inverters, said the firm.
